MILLINOCKET - Hale F. Armstrong, 62, died peacefully at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He was born August 27, 1953 in Millinocket, the son of H. Fred and Janet E. (Brackett) Armstrong.

Hale graduated from Stearns High School, Class of 1971. Following graduation, he attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent, later transferring to the University of Maine in Orono where he graduating in 1975 with a History degree. After a whirlwind romance, he married Rella (Levesque) Armstrong 10 months after meeting her. They were approaching their 37th wedding anniversary in October. Hale worked for the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad from 1978 to 2001. Before hiring on the B&A, he was a substitute teacher for the Millinocket school system. Hale was also an assistant baseball coach for the Stearns Minutemen baseball team and was the color commentator for the Stearns Minutemen basketball team on what was known as the WMKR radio station in Millinocket. Hale loved baseball. The Boston Red Sox were his passion. He took many pokes to the ribs for being a New York Giants fan. Hale also enjoyed following the Boston Bruins & the UMaine Black Bears hockey team.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Rella, are his mother, Janet of Millinocket; grandson, Craig Armstrong and his mother, Jennifer Sanford of Dover-Foxcroft; brother, Mark, and his wife, Teresa of Woodbridge, CA.; sister, Peggy McLean of Millinocket, and bother-in-law, Bruce McLean of Millinocket; father-in-law, Nelson Levesque of East Millinocket; sister-in-law, Marlene Stanley and her husband, Mike of Medway; brother-in-law, Dale Levesque and his wife, Denise of Bangor; his aunt, near and dear to his heart, Jeannie Armstrong of LaGrange; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews, that he treated as his own; and a special friend, Douglas Vincent. Hale was predeceased by his father, Fred and his only son, Derek.

A graveside service will be held 11am, Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Grindstone Cemetery, Grindstone Road, Medway, ME. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversations and refreshments at the Medway Middle School immediately following the celebration of life. Those who wish to remember Hale in a special way may make gifts in his memory to The American Kidney Foundation of Maine, 407 Forrest Avenue, Portland, ME 04101. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.Brookings-Smith.com